Ray Holman Created Blue Satin Suit for Dame Jilly Cooper, Worn to Her Damehood
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 2
Ray Holman Created Blue Satin Suit for Dame Jilly Cooper, Worn to Her Damehood
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 2
Summary
Ray Holman said creating a blue satin suit for Dame Jilly Cooper was an honour, and the author loved it enough to wear it for her damehood ceremony and at the Hay Festival.
Cooper, who had a cameo in TV drama Rivals, was closely involved in shaping the show's look before her death at 88 in October, with Holman saying she offered guidance on how key characters should dress.
On the set of season two, cast and crew were told of her death while filming continued; Holman recalled an emotional tribute with champagne because "this is what she would have wanted."
Season two is set in 1987 against a general election backdrop, and Holman said he used original Vogue magazines, vintage stores and Cardiff's Splott market to build authentic costumes.
Holman, whose credits include Broadchurch, Torchwood and three Doctor Who eras, said his latest work also feeds into Screen Craft Guild Cymru, a new group aimed at helping working-class entrants into TV production.